Could the Bank Have Saved Granny ? A Cautionary Crypto Tale
- BECTRA
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
One Granny, One Mouse, and a Golden Promise
Once upon a time, in a peaceful suburb where cats purr and postmen say hello, lived a sweet retiree we'll call Granny Lucy. With a modest pension and unwavering faith in institutions, she thought the worst that could happen was misplacing her glasses in the fridge.
But one day, a silky-voiced caller made her an irresistible offer: "Madam, your savings could grow faster than bamboo in spring!" Flattered, curious, and maybe a bit lonely, she said yes. Thus began her crypto adventure. Spoiler: It didn’t end with a magic castle.
When Granny Clicks, It Hurts
In just a few weeks, Granny Lucy transferred over €230,000 to exotic-sounding bank accounts. Each transfer — €3,000, only on business days (polite, right?) — was validated through her shiny new online banking interface. Quite a leap for someone who thought Wi-Fi was a laundry detergent.
Who Should’ve Sounded the Alarm?
Her bank? Maybe. I mean, if your grandma suddenly withdrew €10,000 in coins to buy a horse online, wouldn’t you expect a phone call?
Granny Lucy used to ask for help with the simplest online steps. Now she’s an international wire transfer ninja? The bank didn’t notice anything odd? Not even a pigeon with a warning note or a flashing emoji?
Vigilance in Dot-Dot-Dot Mode
A banker’s duty of vigilance is like a high-vis vest — it should shine bright. But nothing blinked here. Legally, banks shouldn’t interfere with customer decisions... unless there’s a whiff of scam in the air.
Lucy didn’t say she was investing — she mentioned a family project. And the bank, playing the part of a tone-deaf uncle at Christmas dinner, asked no questions.
Victim or Digital Daredevil?
Past her seventies, Lucy managed her finances with Swiss-watch precision. No overdrafts, no impulse buys. Then — poof — she empties everything. The court ruled: she was free to do so, thus responsible.
The takeaway? In this modern tale, it’s not always the fox that gets caught. Sometimes, it’s the hen who didn’t read the fine print.
What Granny Should’ve Known
Banks are not your financial life coaches: They execute; they don’t predict.
If a platform sounds too good to be true, it probably is — especially if it’s headquartered on a beach with tax benefits.
One wire a day keeps common sense away: Make that your new mantra.
Moral of the Story: Should We Train Our Elders in Cyber Awareness?
If Granny Lucy had attended a “Crypto & Cookies” workshop at city hall, she might’ve never clicked. It’s time to stop thinking only young people fall for online scams.
And you? When’s the last time you checked Grandpa’s bank account for funny business?
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